FET/IVF - January 2023

[Jane1284]

Hey

I would love to get a group together of some of us who are undergoing IVF or FETs in Jan. I found it really helpful to have the support of those going through similar last time (Nov 2020).

My story: I am due to start my first FET in January of my one and only frozen embryo. The embryo is from a cycle in Nov 2020 when I was almost 36. I have low AMH and AFC and it was my first and only NHS round. I got 4 eggs all which miraculously fertilised, 1 made it to day 5 and was put back in with a fresh transfer. Sadly it did not stick. 1 egg was left until day 6 and it finally made it to blastocyst. It has been frozen. Rather than having a FET back then they advised me to do a banking package of 3 cycles due to my low AMH/AFC so in Jan 2021 we started our first private IVF cycle with the same clinic (Kings). Once again I was on max stims (gonal f and menopur) and it looked like we would get 4 eggs again but when I woke from EC they told me they only got 2. I had a bit of a breakdown. I was so upset going through all that including over £2k worth of drugs injected to only get two eggs. It felt even worse as I had let myself hope it would go well. Out of the 2 eggs only 1 fertilised normally. On day 3 the embryologist told me it was average quality and she wasn't sure it would be good enough to freeze on day 5 if it even made it that far. I couldn't handle the thought of going through all that mental anguish to not have anything to freeze so I made a last minute decision to go in for a day 3 fresh transfer. I had zero expectations but somehow that average embryo stuck. I was so stressed all pregnancy and worried about everything but amazingly I gave birth to my first baby in Sep 2021. He is now 14 months and I am turning 38 in 2 weeks.

Now it is time to get back on the IVF/FET train. I have been for my initial scan and blood tests. The scan was fine. Still not many follicles but not significantly worse. Waiting for a consult with the Dr next week for an update on my AMH (can't wait.... ) where she'll also decide on our protocol. I am leaning towards a medicated FET just so we can plan it a bit better. If that doesn't work then it is back to a 3 cycle package of IVF.

I hope I haven't bored anyone reading this to tears. Would be great if anyone else out there would like to be a cycle buddy? :-)

@LittleDoveLove Thinking of you xx

So sorry @LittleDoveLove - I hope you have support around you. Have you been booked in with the EPU to confirm? sending lots of support your way xx

Sending love @LittleDoveLove x

Hi all, as you probably guessed yes I'm negative. Sigh. But it has been so lovely to see all the positives in here and is giving me real hope for next time.

Congratulations @Jane1284 @torypops @PimlicoMum4 and @IVFbeenverylucky , I am over the moon for you all! xx

@LittleDoveLove my heart goes out to you and I'm sending huge virtual hugs.

Keeping my fingers crossed for those of you with their FETs this coming week xx

Sorry to hear that @Greenlee - I hope you can have some time to yourself to process this round and then get back up for another go. It's so intense what we put ourselves through but we do it because we are all so strong and unfortunately have to go through all this to get our babies. xx

@Greenlee and @LittleDoveLove sending my love and hugs to you both ❤️

@Frosty91 I am starting my pessaries tomorrow morning (friday) with transfer next Weds. Feeling very nervous! Will be my first transfer.

@acaciabluebell @acacaciabluebell I started my pessaries today done two already.Are you using the utrogestan the vaginal capsules. I been told these are the best ones. Doing three times a day. Taken time off work as I couldn't imagine doing them at work. My transfer is booked in for Tuesday. Its my first transfer first ivf really nervous.. Is anyone else experiencing discharge while taking estradiol? And good luck for your pessaries tomorrow. Let me know how it goes. Its both of our first ones 🤲 x

@Greenlee don't give up. Everything will happen at the right time. Sending you lots of love. Was it your first transfer? Take your mind of things and keep yourself busy x

@Frosty91 have you taken the whole TWW off? I can't imagine having to do pessaries 3x a day! I've booked off day of transfer and 3 days after. My pessaries are cyclogest 400mg twice a day, morning and night. I also have prontogest IM injection every other day. Btw yes estradiol gave me a lot of discharge at the start but not so much anymore. I've heard that progesterone pessaries are very messy so you have to wear a liner. I'm not yet sure if I want to do them in the back or front (lol 😂) Anyone have any experience and want to share their experiences? lol

@acaciabluebell 😆 I'm on the pessaries three times a day! I alternate front and back. I think the morning of my transfer I'll do back, otherwise it might be a bit messy for the doctor... definitely wear a panty liner because the discharge from them is like wax and it ruined a pair of my pants!

Love to @Greenlee and @LittleDoveLove ♥️

@acaciabluebell Ooo yes cyclogest I have heard of that. I'm on the vaginal capsules so they are not as messy and can only be done in the vagina. I work at the hospital and the Dr gave me a fit note until next Thursday and said if I need to extend it I can extend it until the pregnancy test. The time off has been great alot less stress and easier me putting the tablet in lol I just can't imagine how would I have done it at work. I highly recommend the time off. After the transfer she said I can either continue with the vaginal capsules or have the injection and use it once daily so I will have a think. Anyone else opted for the injection? Or just continued with the utrogestan capsules?.. yes omg I have been wearing pantyliners everyday my discharge is still alot🙈

This thread is moving so quickly!

@whomoon I Hope you’re feeling a little better now. I was quite apprehensive when my medication arrived, from making sure it was there, to looking at the sheer amount of drugs I would be taking over the cycle! It’s a lot, and when you’re not used to it, it can feel a bit overwhelming.

@Jane1284 @torypops @PimlicoMum4 Congratulations all!!

@Piapea I’m sorry you missed your cycle and ovulated before plan. A mini medicated cycle sounds good.

@IVFbeenverylucky Congratulations 🎉

@LittleDoveLove I’m sorry to hear that. Take time to look after yourself. This journey is so hard.

@Greenlee Im sorry it didn’t work this time. What are your next steps?

@acaciabluebell Good luck for your transfer next Wednesday. It’s getting real now!

I had my down regulation scan yesterday (again). After 2 periods and 6 weeks of down regulation I am ready to start Stims! Start ovaleap tonight, so moving onto 2 injections (buserelin and ovaleap) so happy things are finally moving along! Next scan to check stims progress is 26th.

@Lauralozzle I had the same medication as you on my first cycle. I don't know about you but I found the buserelin tough going, and felt immediately better on the ovaleap.

@countrypunk good luck. And when is your transfer? Mine is on Tuesday. First IVF first FET🙈

@Frosty91 Sunday! I got two embryos from my first cycle in November. I had a fresh day 5 transfer just before Christmas which failed so this is my first try with a frozen embryo. It's hard striking the right balance between hope and realism isn't it. I'm sort of trying to prepare myself for having to go through the whole IVF rigmarole all over again.

Is your username your date of birth? If so you're young and your chances of your transfer working are excellent! Very best of luck ♥️ I wept on the nurse at my first transfer and I'm sure I'll do the same thing on Sunday. The worst thing about it is being kept waiting while you're desperate for a pee!

@countrypunk omg good luck not long left for you I will send prayers your way. I have heard good things about frozen transfers so I'm hoping it will work for you. Please do let me know how it goes. Yes I'm 31. First IVF under NHS 18 eggs collected 5 embryos all good grades but they said they wanted to do frozen embryo transfer due to OHSS. With me it was unexplained fertility been trying for 3 years now. I have 5 sisters who all have babies. I have 8 nieces and 9 nephews so it's not a problem in my family. I'm praying this will work. I haven't read many first attempt success which is making me nervous. All the ones i have read have been second or third. I have been drinking the pot juice 🤷‍♀️ everyone is on about so we shall see x

@countrypunk the pom juice not pot juice lol and yes the full bladder. I'm dreading that. Imagine you can't hold it in. Can't imagine what would happen 😕

Congratulations to all of you with positive pregnancy results, it’s amazing to see it is possible.

So sorry to hear the update @LittleDoveLove. Miscarriages are heartbreaking. I hope you have lots of support around you.

@Greenlee I’m so sorry it didn’t work. This is such a hard emotional and physical journey. I hope you also have lots of support around you.

@Lauralozzle congrats on reaching stims! I had my baseline scan yesterday and started ovaleap and meriofert injections last night. My next scan is Wed 25th so our timings are very similar. I barely felt the ovaleap but the meriofert was stingy. Round 2 of injections tonight, weirdly looking forward to it, to feel like I’m doing something productive!

@acaciabluebell @Frosty91 @countrypunk @Lauralozzle thank you all for your kind thoughts xx I tried asking the clinic about when I can arrange to go again but they're insisting on the blood result first... so another few days of "enjoying" the pessaries for nothing! 😂I had asked my consultant about alternatives to the pessaries but apparently they are the most effective AND other methods have side-effects, so here we are. Panty liners are almost as annoying as everything sticks to everything... it's "only" vegetable oil that it's made of, but it's like having a wad of runny vaseline hit your knickers at assorted times of the day without warning 😂

For anyone else prescribed 5mg folic acid, I went to pick up my (very slow) script today and realised that it is far, far cheaper to continue taking the over-the-counter tablets from Asda. Even though I have to take 5x in the morning and 6x at night to make up the dose (there's 400mg in a standard tablet, plus 400mg in pretty much every pregnancy multivitamin). Asda has a current deal of 3 packs for £3 and that's 32 days' worth, compared with more than £9 for a 28-day script 🙄

Thank you @Laur0606 I'm doing ok. I think I was prepared for this to be a long shot. Keeping fingers crossed for you for a good cycle xx

@Greenlee Oh no. Pessaries suck. The utrogestan have been amazing they just like a tablet capsule which you stick in the vagina. No mess from what I have experienced. I would recommend than the cyclogest heard they can get really messy. Good luck with your blood tests x

@Greenlee don't give up, keep the positive spirit for the next cycle. It is not over, albeit it is painful to get the negative result. Be kind to yourself, spoil yourself a bit, your body has been through a lot.

Congrats to everyone who's been successful this round, it is so great to read positive stories and keep hope up for us as well.

I am a bit behind you all so through the first 9 days of estrodot and have a scan for my uterus lining scheduled next week. I have been told they have a matching donor and today they told me they have collected 10 eggs. We'll see how many embryos will survive but currently, I am scheduled for transfer on the 11th Feb. That is if my lining is not too far ahead and they'd need to push it earlier. I hope not because I have my annual leave arranged and it will be easier to deal with this when I am off work.

@countrypunk Yes, this extended down regulation hasn’t been great. I’ve not really had hot flushes or anything but the headaches when I’ve been having them have been intense.

@Laur0606 Wow, yes our timings are very close! I’m looking forward to my first stims injection tonight, it will feel like a positive next step!

@Frosty91 Haha, pot juice! I quite fancy that, might aid the relaxation.

I asked the nurse at my first transfer if anyone had ever peed on her and she said no. But then she said she also wouldn't tell me I did!

Thank you for your prayers ♥️ I know of women it's worked first time for. And 5 embryos in the freezer is fantastic - you've got a safety net if it happens to not work this time. I massively hope it does though x

@Lauralozzle Yeah, I got a taste of the menopause on buserelin and needless to say, I didn't like it. Straight on the HRT for me when the time comes!

@LittleDoveLove and @Greenlee so sorry to hear the sad news, us ivf women are literally warriors with what we have to go through, we have to be so strong, never give up and keep going!!

I've used both cyclogest and utrogestan, and have to say cyclogest are the messy ones and the utrogestan much better and more pleasant, haha!

Good luck to everyone next week, I will look forward to your updates and transfers, I have my first lining scan tomorrow, eek